Comments on: The Day of Doom: The Battle of Gravelotte/Saint-Privathttp://www.historynet.com/the-day-of-doom-the-battle-of-gravelotte-saint-privat.htm
From the World's Largest History Magazine PublisherTue, 31 Mar 2015 17:09:11 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2By: Chris Robertshttp://www.historynet.com/the-day-of-doom-the-battle-of-gravelotte-saint-privat.htm#comment-810632
Chris RobertsFri, 29 Jun 2012 05:34:35 +0000#comment-810632You are actually wrong in comparing Gettysburg with the Britsh assaults at . Passchendaele or as it is properly known Third Ypres. 1st, 2nd and 3d Passchendaele were sub battles of the campaign.
The British infantry advanced behind a rolling barrage and on the first day and the left flank of the attack was very successful, although the right flank was held up on the Ghelvelt Ridge. In the three battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Broodseinde they used "bite and Hold" tactics, again with a rolling barrage, and then a curtain of artillery fire in front of the final objectives that completely broke up the German counter attacks. These three attacks were completely successful and bore no resemblance to the Confederate attack against Cemetery Ridge.
Chris RobertsYou are actually wrong in comparing Gettysburg with the Britsh assaults at . Passchendaele or as it is properly known Third Ypres. 1st, 2nd and 3d Passchendaele were sub battles of the campaign.

The British infantry advanced behind a rolling barrage and on the first day and the left flank of the attack was very successful, although the right flank was held up on the Ghelvelt Ridge. In the three battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Broodseinde they used "bite and Hold" tactics, again with a rolling barrage, and then a curtain of artillery fire in front of the final objectives that completely broke up the German counter attacks. These three attacks were completely successful and bore no resemblance to the Confederate attack against Cemetery Ridge.

Chris Roberts

]]>By: Doug Ashcrofthttp://www.historynet.com/the-day-of-doom-the-battle-of-gravelotte-saint-privat.htm#comment-784715
Doug AshcroftFri, 16 Dec 2011 07:12:10 +0000#comment-784715Brilliantly and concisely written.
I have argued that although General Officers had studied strategy and tactics before launching into WW1, they completely ignored the principles demonstrated at Gettysburg.
That lesson showed how utterly wasteful of troops was the decision to propel them en masse across a long open field against an enemy entrenched on high ground behind stone fortifications. Nothing but the butchery of the attackers could take place and did.
So, the British, completely ignoring this vital lesson launched their forces in roughly similar circumstances against the Germans at Passchendale. Slaughter of the mud clogged attackers was again the result. This was one of the most incompetent attacks of WW1.
I have argued that Napoleonic Strategy dominated the thinking in WW1, hence other considerations were seen as irrelevant. My argument is set out in Tomahawk1.blogspot.com.
Doug AshcroftBrilliantly and concisely written.

I have argued that although General Officers had studied strategy and tactics before launching into WW1, they completely ignored the principles demonstrated at Gettysburg.

That lesson showed how utterly wasteful of troops was the decision to propel them en masse across a long open field against an enemy entrenched on high ground behind stone fortifications. Nothing but the butchery of the attackers could take place and did.

So, the British, completely ignoring this vital lesson launched their forces in roughly similar circumstances against the Germans at Passchendale. Slaughter of the mud clogged attackers was again the result. This was one of the most incompetent attacks of WW1.

I have argued that Napoleonic Strategy dominated the thinking in WW1, hence other considerations were seen as irrelevant. My argument is set out in Tomahawk1.blogspot.com.